2002 First Amendment Award honorees
First Amendment Awards are presented annually in recognition of extraordinarily strong efforts to preserve and strengthen The First Amendment.
Vanessa Leggett
For refusing to turn over her notes to authorities who were investigating a homicide. Leggett spent 128 days in jail.
2002 Sunshine Award honorees
Sunshine Awards are presented annually to recognize those individuals or groups making important contributions in the area of open government.
Barbara Petersen,
Florida First Amendment Foundation
For work defending FOI during difficult special legislative sessions in Florida.
Joseph Tyrrell
For his instrumental role in forming the New Jersey Coalition on Open Government and for his support of New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act passed by the legislature in 2002.
Florida Society of Newspaper Editors
For organizing a one-day editorial campaign in support of FOI during the Florida legislative sessions.
Brechner Center for Freedom of Information
For working with students to create the “Keep Florida in the Sunshine” series of public service advertisements.
The Pennsylvania First Amendment Coalition and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association
For publishing the Media Survival Kit, now in its 6th edition.
The California Newspaper Publishers Association and the California First Amendment Coalition
For their efforts to pass a “Sunshine Amendment” to the California constitution in the state legislature and have it submitted to voters.
Society Awards
Wells Memorial Key: Kyle Niederpruem, former national SPJ President and Sigma Delta Chi Foundation board member; and Julie Grimes, SPJ deputy executive director
Fellows of the Society: Leonard Downie Jr., executive editor of The Washington Post; David Handschuh, photographer for the New York Daily News; and Robert Kaiser, associate editor and senior correspondent for The Washington Post
Helen Thomas Award for Lifetime Achievement: Tom and Pat Gish of The Mountain Eagle in Whitesburg, Ky.
2002 Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award: William M. Lawbaugh, Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Md.
Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award: Marcel P. Dufresne, University of Connecticut
David L. Eshelman Outstanding Campus Adviser Award: Sue Kopen Katcef, University of Maryland
Howard S. Dubin Outstanding Pro Chapter Member: Dorothy Estes of the Fort Worth Pro Chapter
Julie Galvan Outstanding Campus Chapter Member Award: Alanna Turner, graduate of University of Maryland
Regional Director of the Year Award: Irwin Gratz, Region I
President’s Award: Howard Dubin, chairman of SPJ Membership Committee; Sally Lehrman, chairwoman of SPJ Diversity Committee; Ian Marquand, chairman of SPJ FOI Committee; and Christine Tatum, chairwoman of SPJ Legal Defense Fund
Circle of Excellence Awards
First Amendment and Freedom of Information Activity: Minnesota Pro (large) and William O’Douglas (small)
Campus Relations and Scholarship Activities: Connecticut Pro (large) and Greater Tri-Cities Pro and Virginia Pro (tie for small)
Minority Relations and Activities Promoting Diversity Among Journalists: Chicago Headline Club (large) and Bluegrass Pro (small)
Professional Development and Continuing Education Programs: Washington, D.C., Pro (large) and Virginia Pro (small)
Chapter Communication: Chicago Headline Club (large) and Hawaii Pro (small)
National Outstanding Chapters
Large Pro: Minnesota Pro
Small Pro: Arkansas Pro
Campus: University of Florida
Regional Outstanding Chapters
LARGE PRO (75 or more members)
Region 1 – Connecticut Pro
Region 2 – Washington D.C. Pro
Region 3 – South Florida Pro
Region 4 – Central Ohio Pro
Region 5 – Indiana Pro
Region 6 – Minnesota Pro
Region 7 – No award
Region 8 – Fort Worth Pro
Region 9 – No award
Region 10 – Greater Oregon Pro
Region 11 – San Diego Pro
Region 12 – No award
SMALL PRO (Fewer than 75 members)
Region 1 – No award
Region 2 – Virginia Pro
Region 3 – East Tennessee Pro
Region 4 – Queen City Pro
Region 5 – Bluegrass Pro
Region 6 – No award
Region 7 – No award
Region 8 – San Antonio Pro
Region 9 – Utah Headliners
Region 10 – William O’Douglas
Region 11 – Valley of the Sun Pro
Region 12 – Arkansas Pro
CAMPUS CHAPTERS
Region 1 – Syracuse University
Region 2 – University of Maryland
Region 3 – University of Florida
Region 4 – Bowling Green State University
Region 5 – Western Kentucky University
Region 6 – St. Cloud State University
Region 7 – University of Missouri-Columbia
Region 8 – Southwest Texas University
Region 9 – University of New Mexico
Region 10 – Pacific Lutheran University
Region 11 – University of Hawaii-Manoa
Region 12 – University of Arkansas
